33,304 research outputs found
Field-control, phase-transitions, and life's emergence
Instances of critical-like characteristics in living systems at each
organizational level as well as the spontaneous emergence of computation
(Langton), indicate the relevance of self-organized criticality (SOC). But
extrapolating complex bio-systems to life's origins, brings up a paradox: how
could simple organics--lacking the 'soft matter' response properties of today's
bio-molecules--have dissipated energy from primordial reactions in a controlled
manner for their 'ordering'? Nevertheless, a causal link of life's macroscopic
irreversible dynamics to the microscopic reversible laws of statistical
mechanics is indicated via the 'functional-takeover' of a soft magnetic
scaffold by organics (c.f. Cairns-Smith's 'crystal-scaffold'). A
field-controlled structure offers a mechanism for bootstrapping--bottom-up
assembly with top-down control: its super-paramagnetic components obey
reversible dynamics, but its dissipation of H-field energy for aggregation
breaks time-reversal symmetry. The responsive adjustments of the controlled
(host) mineral system to environmental changes would bring about mutual
coupling between random organic sets supported by it; here the generation of
long-range correlations within organic (guest) networks could include SOC-like
mechanisms. And, such cooperative adjustments enable the selection of the
functional configuration by altering the inorganic network's capacity to assist
a spontaneous process. A non-equilibrium dynamics could now drive the
kinetically-oriented system towards a series of phase-transitions with
appropriate organic replacements 'taking-over' its functions.Comment: 54 pages, pdf fil
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Regional construction sector: sector implementation plan (SIP)
This Sector Implementation Plan (SIP) forms an integral part of the Regional Economic Strategy (RES), acting as a high level plan for the regionâs construction sector, and providing an overview of the strategic actions and interventions which will deliver the outcomes required to achieve progress against each key challenge
The Global People toolbook: managing the life cycle of intercultural partnerships
This Toolbook has been designed for those who are planning and running international projects and who feel a need for guidance. It has its origins in a major educational project, the eChina-UK Programme, that created new collaborations between UK and Chinese Higher Education Institutions around the development of e-learning materials. The rich intercultural learning that emerged from that programme prompted the development of a new and evidence-based set of resources for other individuals and institutions undertaking international collaborative projects. Although the main focus of the work is on intercultural effectiveness in international contexts, we believe that many of the resources have a more general value and are useful for those planning collaboration in any situation
of diversity â national, regional, sectoral or institutional
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Police Knowledge Exchange: Full Report 2018
[Executive Summary]
This report was commissioned to explore the enablers and barriers to sharing within and between police forces and between police forces and partners, including the public. This was completed from an interdisciplinary review of international literature covering sharing, knowledge exchange, learning and organisational learning. The literature broke down into four main factors; who, why, what and how. An introduction to the literature is presented with âWhoâ is sharing which considers both personal identity and different institutional issues. The âWhyâ literature covers issues of cultural and community motivators and barriers. The âWhatâ segment reviews concepts of data, information and knowledge and related legislative issues. Finally, the âhowâ section spans face to face sharing approaches to technologies that produce both enablers and barriers. A series of 42 in-depth interviews and focus groups were completed and combined with 47 survey responses . The aim of the interviews, focus groups and survey was to show perceptions and beliefs around knowledge sharing from a small sample across policing in order to complement the findings from the literature review.
The survey was adapted from a standardised questionnaire (Biggs, 1987). The Biggs questionnaire focused on what motivated students to learn and how they approached their learning. Our adapted survey looked at what motivated police to share, and how they approached sharing. The responses showed a trend, across the police, towards a motivation for sharing to develop a deeper understanding of issues. However, the approaches and the strategies they used to share with others, which were primarily driven by achieving and surface approaches (to get promoted and get the job done). According to Biggs (1987) this could leave them discontented as they never progress to a deeper understanding of issues. Scaffolding sharing within the police through processes that are clearly defined, effective and valued could help to overcome these issues.
Within the interviews and focus group findings a similar structured approach to sharing was adopted. Within the âwhoâ section some key aspects around personal relationships, reciprocity and reputation were identified. The âwhyâ the police share was one of the largest discussion points. Not only was there a deep motivation to solve key policing issues there was an approach of reciprocity. Police sharing was deeply motivated to support âgood practiceâ in the prevention and detection of crime. However, a sharing barrier was identified in the parity of value given to different types of knowledge for example between professional judgement and research evidence knowledge. Sharing was achieved when there were reciprocal benefits, in particular with personal networks or face to face sharing which was noted as âsafeâ. Again, this was inhibited by misunderstandings around the ârisksâ of sharing, frequently attributed to data protection legislation; producing cautious reactions and as an avoidance tactic to save time and effort sharing. However, a divide was noted between technical users and those who avoided any online systems for sharing; often due to poorly designed systems and a lack of confidence in how to use systems. The police culture was identified as being risk-adverse, and competitive due to multiple factors, a lack of supported time to share, Her Majestyâs Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) reviews and promotion criteria. The result was perceived to be a poor cultural ability to learn from mistakes and a likelihood to repeat errors.
A set of strategic recommendations are given and include the use of a sharing authorised professional practice for HMIC reviews, sharing networks and training. A further set of operational recommendations are given such as; sharing impact cases for evidence based practice, data sharing officers and evaluating mechanisms for sharing.
This full report is supported by the Police Knowledge Exchange Summary Report 2018 which gives an overview of the findings and recommendations
Energy Harvesting Wireless Communications: A Review of Recent Advances
This article summarizes recent contributions in the broad area of energy
harvesting wireless communications. In particular, we provide the current state
of the art for wireless networks composed of energy harvesting nodes, starting
from the information-theoretic performance limits to transmission scheduling
policies and resource allocation, medium access and networking issues. The
emerging related area of energy transfer for self-sustaining energy harvesting
wireless networks is considered in detail covering both energy cooperation
aspects and simultaneous energy and information transfer. Various potential
models with energy harvesting nodes at different network scales are reviewed as
well as models for energy consumption at the nodes.Comment: To appear in the IEEE Journal of Selected Areas in Communications
(Special Issue: Wireless Communications Powered by Energy Harvesting and
Wireless Energy Transfer
Key factors affecting transnational knowledge transfer in the context of the Euroaid Asia programme
A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Science by research of the University of BedfordshireThe thesis aims to identify and verify the key factors affecting transnational knowledge transfer (TKT) in the context of the EuroAid Asia Programme. This study extends the existing research on knowledge transfer (KT) by investigating the neglected area of TKT, an area which needs better understanding, given the rapid development of TKT. Compared to the KT at the individual, group, or organizational level, TKT is both more complicated to comprehend, and has received less attention.
This study begins with a literature review of the definition of knowledge and KT, analysis of KT at different levels, and summary of a comprehensive set of factors that may influence KT. Then, in order to empirically explore the key factors affecting TKT in the EuroAid Asia Programme and to evaluate the relative importance between factors, an international Delphi survey is employed. Through the two rounds, experts mentioned twenty-four factors and provided explanations for their views. Based on these survey results, a factorial model is developed.
The verified factors and the proposed model could help project participants better understand the process of TKT, remind them what key factors really influence the process of TKT and urge them to make an active effort to properly assess each factor before prioritizing the factors for management attention
Making the Grade
With its July 2015 announcement of the Second Chance Pell Pilot Program, the U.S. Department of Education ushered in what could be a new era of expanded opportunities for postsecondary education in our nation's prisons. The Second Chance Pell Pilot makes students incarcerated in state and federal prisons eligible for need-based financial aid in a limited number of authorized sitesâmeaning postsecondary education is likely to become a reality for an increased number of the more than 1.5 million people in prisons nationwide.Research shows thatâamong other benefits to individuals, families, communities, and prisonsâincarcerated people who participate in prison education programs are 43 percent less likely to recidivate than those who do not. This report offers lessons from the field on the implementation of these programs in corrections settings across the country
BlogForever D3.2: Interoperability Prospects
This report evaluates the interoperability prospects of the BlogForever platform. Therefore, existing interoperability models are reviewed, a Delphi study to identify crucial aspects for the interoperability of web archives and digital libraries is conducted, technical interoperability standards and protocols are reviewed regarding their relevance for BlogForever, a simple approach to consider interoperability in specific usage scenarios is proposed, and a tangible approach to develop a succession plan that would allow a reliable transfer of content from the current digital archive to other digital repositories is presented
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